Combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray

ABSTRACT

A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray includes a receiver positioned within an ash tray and rotatably and removably supported thereon, the receiver has a plurality of generally cylindrical sockets each sized to receive a cigarette stub through one end thereof and a portion of reduced size to support an end portion of the cigarette stub received therein and to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub and thereby extinguish same. A form of the structure has an impact member positioned in each of the sockets between the reduced size portion and the other end thereof and the impact member is movable into engagement with the supported end of a cigarette stub to eject same into the ash tray upon rotation of the receiver.

llnited States Patent [19] Patterson COMBINATION CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER AND ASH TRAY [76] Inventor: Robert .1. Patterson, 110 Alderson,

Lees Summit, Mo. 64063 [22] Filed: July 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 381,921

[52] 11.8. CI. 131/240 ED, 131/235 R [51] Int. Cl. A241 19/14 [58] Field of Search 131/235 R, 240 ED, 256

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,926 2/1943 Brand 131/240 E X 2,541,929 2/1951 Marley 131/235 R 2,891,558 6/1959 Machon 131/235 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 448,537 6/1936 Great Britain 131/235 R 652,101 10/1931 Germany 131/235 R 4 2 33 i25 3| H. l

mfj It H Hlil HiliimililiHH 11] 3,840,027 Oct. 8, 1974 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or FirmFishburn, Gold & Litman [5 7] ABSTRACT A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray includes a receiver positioned within an ash tray and rotatably and removably supported thereon, the receiver has a plurality of generally cylindrical sockets each sized to receive a cigarette stub through one end thereof and a portion of reduced size to support an end portion of the cigarette stub received therein and to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub and thereby extinguish same. A form of the structure has an impact member positioned in each of the sockets between the reduced size portion and the other end thereof and the impact member is movable into engagement with the supported end of a cigarette stub to eject same into the ash tray upon r0 tation of the receiver.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures COMBINATION CIGARETTE EXTINGUISI-IER AND ASH TRAY The present invention relates to a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray and more particularly to such a combination wherein sockets in a receiver are adapted to support a cigarette stub adjacent the burning end and adapted to restrict air flow to the burning end to thereby quickly extinguish same.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray adapted to extinguish cigarettes substantially instantly whereby the cigarettes may be relit if desired; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray adapted to quickly extinguish burning cigarettes without crushing and without the build up of objectionable tars; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray having seat members in cigarette receiving sockets adapted to engage the paper adjacent a burning end of a cigarette stub, support same and restrict air flow to a burning end thereof depriving same of oxygen with the resulting quick extinguishing of the fire; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray having an impact member in each of the sockets to eject the cigarette stub therein upon inverting of the receiver; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray adapted to automatically return the receiver to an upright position for reuse; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray wherein the receiver is removable for ease of cleaning and wherein the receiver is rotatably supported on upper edges of the ash tray with said upper edges being inclined downwardly to guide the receiver into the proper supporting position; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray which substantially eliminates objectionable smoke after placing a cigarette stub in a socket in the receiver; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray having means for supporting a burning cigarette on an upper surface thereof; to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray having a flared entrances to each of the sockets for ease of placing a cigarette stub therein; and to provide such a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray which is economical to manufacture, durable in construction, attractive in appearance, positive in operation, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray with portions broken away to better illustrate the component parts.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the cigarette extinguisher and ash tray with a portion broken away as in FIG. 2.

FIG; 4 is a top plan view of the cigarette extinguisher and ash tray, the trunnion portions being broken away adjacent the bearings therefor to better illustrate the same.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5--5, FIG. 4, the trunnion portions being broken away adjacent the bearings therefor to better illustrate the same.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified receiver having a plurality of impact members each in a respective cigarette receiving socket.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 7 except showing the modified receiver in an inverted position to eject an extinguished cigarette stub.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray which includes a receiver 2 positioned within an ash tray 3 and rotatably and removably supported thereon as on the side walls 4 thereof. The receiver 2 has a plurality of generally cylindrical sockets 5 each having an entrance and being sized to receive a respective cigarette stub 6 therein. Each of the sockets 5 has portions of reduced size or seat members 7 extending inwardly to support an end portion 8 of the cigarette stub 6 received therein and to restrict air flow to a burning end 9 of the supported cigarette stub 6 and thereby extinguish same.

The ash tray 3 may be any desired shape which is adapted to rotatably support the receiver 2 therein and to contain ejected cigarette stubs 6. In the illustrated structure, the ash tray 3 has a bottom wall 11 and wall means 4 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 11 to define a receptacle. The illustrated wall means 4 include a pair of spaced side walls 12 and 13 and a pair of opposed end walls 14 and 15 each upstanding from and suitably secured to the bottom wall 11 and to adjacent walls. The end walls 14 and 15 have upper edges 16 and 17 respectively which are inclined downwardly and converge in recesses 18 and 19 positioned at the center of the respective end walls 14 and 15. The recesses 18 and 19 form bearing members and may be semicircular in cross section and adapted to receive trunnions 20 and 21 extending outwardly from respective opposite ends of the receiver 2 for rotatably supporting same.

The receiver 2 may be any desired shape. It may be solid of ceramic or other suitable material or hollow for conservation of material. The sockets 5 may be arranged in any desired pattern therein. In the illustrated structure, the receiver 2 has a top wall 22 having an upper surface 23 positioned above the upper edges of the upstanding walls of the ash tray 3. The receiver 2 has a bottom wall 24 having a lower surface 25 normally positioned above an upper surface of the bottom wall 11 of the ash tray 3. Longitudinally spaced end walls 26 and 27 extend between and are suitably secured to the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 24. The receiver 2 may have side walls extending between respective edges of the top wall 22, bottom wall 24, and end walls 26 and 27 or a body portion (not shown) for rigidity and weight, for a purpose later described.

The sockets 5 may be recesses in a solid member, however, the sockets 5 are illustrated as elongated tubular members each having a side wall extending between the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 24 of the receiver 2. The side wall of each of the sockets 5 defines a generally cylindrical passage having an interior surface thereof in close proximity to an exterior surface of a cigarette stub 6 received in the respective socket 5. The sockets 5 each have an outwardly flared entrance 29 in the upper surface 23 of the top wall 22.

The seat members 7 in the sockets 5 provide means for engaging the paper adjacent the burning end portion 8 of a respective cigarette stub 6, support same and restrict air fiow to said burning end 9 and thereby extinguish same. The seat members 7 are illustrated as enlarged portions on the interior surface of the side wall and extend radially inwardly a distance sufficient to engage and support the exterior of a respective cigarette stub 6 while permitting the burning end 9 to extend therethrough.

The burning end 9 of the cigarette stub 6 is preferably positioned within a substantially closed chamber having a minimum quantity of air therein whereby the oxygen is quickly consumed and the fire on the burning end 9 is thereby quickly extinguished. The end of the sockets 5 opposite the entrance 29 may be closed by the bottom wall 24 of the receiver 2 or by an end wall 30 secured to the respective tubular members to define a substantially closed chamber when a cigarette stub 6 is supported on the respective seat member 7.

The trunnions and 21 are longitudinally aligned and extend outwardly from the end walls 26 and 27 of the receiver 2 and the trunnions 20 and 21 are rotatably received within the recesses 18 and 19 respectively whereby the receiver 2 is rotatably supported on the ash tray 3.

A handle is mounted on at least one of the trunnions to permit manually rotating or turning the receiver 2 to an inverted position to eject cigarette stubs 6 therein. In the illustrated structure, the trunnions 20 and 21 are positioned closer to the upper surface 23 than to the lower surface 25 of the receiver 2 whereby the receiver 2 has a greater weight below the trunnions so that the receiver 2 will return to an upright position to receive the cigarette stubs 6 after being rotated to an inverted position to discharge same from the sockets 5. The trunnions 20 and 21 have handles 31 and 32 respectively thereon whereby the receiver may be inverted from either end of the ash tray 3. v

The receiver 2 may have one or more suitable holders 33 mounted on the upper surface 23 for supporting cigarettes therein. The upper surface 23 is above edges of the side walls 12 and 13 of the ash tray 3 whereby a cigarette supported in one of the holders 33 may extend beyond the ash tray 3.

In using a cigarette extinguisher and ash tray constructed as illustrated and described, a cigarette stub 6 is moved into a respective one of the sockets S with the burning end 9 being moved through the entrance 29 jectionable tars and the like are not accumulated within the sockets 5. The receiver 2 is then inverted by use of one of the handles 31 or 32 to thereby eject the respective cigarette stub 6 into the ash tray 3. Such extinguished and ejected cigarettes may be reused by relighting same as the cigarettes have been extinguished without crushing.

The ash tray 3 may be formed of any suitable material which is adapted to contain cigarette stubs, such as ceramic, metal, or the like. The trunnions 20 and 21 are preferably metal and may be coated with a suitable low friction synthetic resin polymeric material, or the like. The recesses 18 and 19 may have the trunnion supporting surfaces thereof coated with a suitable low friction material to receive the trunnions 20 and 21 respectively therein.

The receiver 2 may be formed of any suitable material having substantially stable dimensions, such as ceramic, synthetic resin, metal, or the like. When metal or synthetic resin is used to form the receiver 2, the sockets 5 are preferably formed of metal and are tubular members.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of the cigarette extinguisher and ash tray 50 having an impact member 51 in each of the sockets 5 between the seat members 7 and a closed end 52 of the respective sockets 5. Each impact member 51 is movable into engagement with the end 9 of the cigarette stub 6 to thereby eject same into the ash tray 3 upon rotation of the receiver 2 toward an inverted position, as shown in FIG. 8.

The seat members 7 provide stops to retain the impact members 51 within the respective sockets 5 upon inverting of the receiver 2. The impact members 51 are preferably formed of a suitable fireproof material, such as metal.

The impact members 51 may be any suitable shape such as cylindrical, spherical, or the like which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the end 9 of a respective cigarette stub 6 and then into engagement with the seat members 7 upon inverting the receiver 2.

Use of the modified form of the cigarette extinguisher and ash tray 50 is substantially similar to use of the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive except that inverting the receiver 2 effects a positive ejecting of the cigarette stubs from the sockets 5 by means of the impact members 51 being moved into engagement with the end 9 of the respective stubs 6.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray comprising:

a. an ash tray having wall means defining an open top receptacle and having means providing opposed trunnion receiving recesses in the upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting the same therein;

b. a receiver for cigarette stubs and means for rotatably supporting same on said wall means of said ash tray;

c. said receiver having a plurality of spaced substantially cylindrical sockets therein each having an entrance and an inner surface, said sockets each being sized to receive a cigarette stub therein with an exterior surface thereof in close proximity to the interior surface of the respective socket;

(1. said receiver having portions extending inwardly from the interior surface of each of said sockets defining a seat for supporting an end of the respective cigarette stub received therein, said seat defining portions being adapted to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub to thereby extinguish same;

e. said receiver having a pair of trunnions extending outwardly therefrom; and

f. the upper edge of said wall means being inclined downwardly toward said trunnion receiving recess means to thereby guide said respective trunnions thereinto.

2. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said receiver has a pair of opposed trunnions extending outwardly therefrom;

b. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trunnion receiving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein; and

c. handle means are mounted on at least one of said trunnions for rotating same and said receiver.

3. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower surface;

b. said sockets each have the entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver; and c. said trunnions being positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver whereby said receiver will return to a position to receive cigarette stubs after being rotated to discharge same from said sockets.

4. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trunnion receiving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein; and

b. handle means are mounted on at least one of said trunnions for rotating same and said receiver.

5. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower surface;

b. said sockets are each defined by a respective tubular member having an entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver; and

c. said means for rotatably supporting said receiver on said wall means of said ash tray is positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver whereby said receiver will return to a position to receive cigarette stubs after being rotated to discharge same from said sockets.

6. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 5 including:

a. an end wall for each of said tubular members and spaced from said respective seat defining means to define a chamber therebetween; and

b. an impact member in each chamber and movable between said respective end wall and said seat defining means and into engagement with a cigarette stub supported thereon to eject same upon rotation of said receiver.

7. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray comprising:

a. an ash tray having wall means defining an open top receptacle;

b. a receiver for cigarette stubs;

c. means on said receiver and said wall means of said ash tray for rotatably supporting said receiver on said wall means of said ash tray;

d. a plurality of spaced tubular members each having an entrance at one end thereof and a side wall defining a respective one of a plurality of substantially cylindrical sockets in said receiver, said tubular members each being sized to receive a cigarette stub therein with an exterior surface thereof in close proximity to an interior surface of the side wall of the respective tubular member;

e. portions extending inwardly from the interior surface of the side wall of each of said tubular members defining a seat for supporting an end of the respective cigarette stub received therein, said seat defining portions being adapted to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub to thereby extinguish same; and

f. means at other end of each of said tubular members for defining a chamber between said other end and said seat defining portions to enclose the burning end of a respective cigarette stub extending into the chamber and means in each chamber movable between said other and of said respective tubular member and said seat defining portions therein and into engagement with a cigarette stub supported thereon to eject the same upon rotation of said receiver.

8. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

a. said receiver has a pair of opposed trunnions extending outwardly therefrom;

b. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower sur-,

face;

c. said trunnions are positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver;

(1. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trunnion receiving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein;

e. the upper edge of said wall means of said ash tray is inclined downwardly toward said trunnion receiving recesses to thereby guide said respective trunnions into said recesses; and

f. said tubular members each have the entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver and the other end thereof positioned adjacent the lower surface of said receiver. 

1. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray comprising: a. an ash tray having wall means defining an open top receptacle and having means providing opposed trunnion receiving recesses in the upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting the same therein; b. a receiver for cigarette stubs and means for rotatably supporting same on said wall means of said ash tray; c. said receiver having a plurality of spaced substantially cylindrical sockets therein each having an entrance and an inner surface, said sockets each being sized to receive a cigarette stub therein with an exterior surface thereof in close proximity to the interior surface of the respective socket; d. said receiver having portions extending inwardly from the interior surface of each of said sockets defining a seat for supporting an end of the respective cigarette stub received therein, said seat defining portions being adapted to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub to thereby extinguish same; e. said receiver having a pair of trunnions extending outwardly therefrom; and f. the upper edge of said wall means being inclined downwardly toward said trunnion receiving recess means to thereby guide said respective trunnions thereinto.
 2. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said receiver has a pair of opposed trunnions extending outwardly therefrom; b. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trunnion receIving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein; and c. handle means are mounted on at least one of said trunnions for rotating same and said receiver.
 3. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower surface; b. said sockets each have the entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver; and c. said trunnions being positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver whereby said receiver will return to a position to receive cigarette stubs after being rotated to discharge same from said sockets.
 4. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trunnion receiving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein; and b. handle means are mounted on at least one of said trunnions for rotating same and said receiver.
 5. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower surface; b. said sockets are each defined by a respective tubular member having an entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver; and c. said means for rotatably supporting said receiver on said wall means of said ash tray is positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver whereby said receiver will return to a position to receive cigarette stubs after being rotated to discharge same from said sockets.
 6. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 5 including: a. an end wall for each of said tubular members and spaced from said respective seat defining means to define a chamber therebetween; and b. an impact member in each chamber and movable between said respective end wall and said seat defining means and into engagement with a cigarette stub supported thereon to eject same upon rotation of said receiver.
 7. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray comprising: a. an ash tray having wall means defining an open top receptacle; b. a receiver for cigarette stubs; c. means on said receiver and said wall means of said ash tray for rotatably supporting said receiver on said wall means of said ash tray; d. a plurality of spaced tubular members each having an entrance at one end thereof and a side wall defining a respective one of a plurality of substantially cylindrical sockets in said receiver, said tubular members each being sized to receive a cigarette stub therein with an exterior surface thereof in close proximity to an interior surface of the side wall of the respective tubular member; e. portions extending inwardly from the interior surface of the side wall of each of said tubular members defining a seat for supporting an end of the respective cigarette stub received therein, said seat defining portions being adapted to restrict air flow to a burning end of the supported cigarette stub to thereby extinguish same; and f. means at other end of each of said tubular members for defining a chamber between said other end and said seat defining portions to enclose the burning end of a respective cigarette stub extending into the chamber and means in each chamber movable between said other and of said respective tubular member and said seat defining portions therein and into engagement with a cigarette stub supported thereon to eject the same upon rotation of said receiver.
 8. A combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said receiver has a pair of opposed trunnions extending outwardly therefrom; b. said receiver has an upper surface and a lower surface; c. said trunnions are positioned closer to said upper surface than to said lower surface of said receiver; d. said wall means of said ash tray has opposed trUnnion receiving recesses in an upper edge thereof for rotatably supporting same therein; e. the upper edge of said wall means of said ash tray is inclined downwardly toward said trunnion receiving recesses to thereby guide said respective trunnions into said recesses; and f. said tubular members each have the entrance thereof positioned in said upper surface of said receiver and the other end thereof positioned adjacent the lower surface of said receiver. 